Angle dozer



J. COONTZ ANGLE DOZER April 22, 1969 Sheet Filed Feb. 24. 1966 INVENTOR. JOHN COONTZ ATTOR N EY J. COONTZ ANGLE DOZER April 22, 1969 Sheet Filed Feb. 24. 1966 7 lli u k 1| lll lana 5' 8 JOHN COONTZ BY 31 N EY to V (D Q INVENTOR.

J. COONTZ ANGLE DOZER April 22, 1969 Sheet Filed Feb. 24. 1966 INVENR. JOH N COO NTZ ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,439,752 Patented Apr. 22, 1969 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention is a bulldozer assembly connectible to a tractor having a blade means adjustable in all directions relative to path of tractor movement including a vertical support frame secured to the forward portion of the tractor; a horizontal thrust support assembly mountable on an engine portion of the tractor connectible to a draw bar; an undercarriage means pivotally connected to the thrust support assembly; linkage means having opposite ends connected to the support frame and the undercarriage means; and hydraulic means connected to the support frame and the linkage means to raise and lower the blade means connected thereto as required.

Various bulldozer assemblies are presently available providing for adjustment of the working blade member in a plurality of directions. The prior art devices are limited in the permissible Working load capacity as this feature is not compatible with the provision of being readily adjustable. It is desirable to have a bulldozer assembly that is readily attachable to a tractor, adjustable in all directions, and constructed so as to withstand the power capacity of the tractor.

In preferred specific embodiments of the invention, a bulldozer assembly is provided for a heavy duty tractor having a blade means, an elongated undercarriage frame means connected to the blade means, a horizontal thrust support assembly secured to the tractor, a pivot connecting the undercarriage frame means to the horizontal thrust support assembly for upward pivotal movement, a vertical thrust support assembly secured to the tractor, a linkage connecting the undercarriage frame means to the vertical thrust support assembly, and hydraulic cylinders connected and operable to raise and lower the undercarriage frame means and attached blade means. The blade means includes a blade plate bolted to a sup port plate so as to be adjustable vertically to control the angle of blade tilt. The mid portion of the blade means is pivotally connected to the undercarriage frame means and the outer ends of the blade means is connected by arm members to the undercarriage frame means. The arm means are movable in opposite directions on the undercarriage frame means to adjust the working or blade angle of the blade means relative to the path of tractor travel. It is seen, therefor, that the bulldozer assembly is readily adjustable for upward pivotal movement about the horizontal thrust support assembly, rotational movement of the blade plate about the support plate to adjust the angle of tilt, relative to the support surface, and the blade is movable horizontally to adjust the blade angle.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a new and novel bulldozer assembly.

Another object of this invention is to provide a bulldozer assembly having a rigid undercarriage frame means connected to a blade means and hydraulic control means operable to raise and lower the blade means.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a bulldozer assembly having means for the ready attachment and removal from a tractor.

A further object of this invention is to provide a bulldozer assembly having a new and novel undercarriage frame structure designed to withstand the load capacity of the largest tractors.

One other object of this invention is to provide a bulldozer assembly readily attachable to most any type of tractor vehicle.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a bulldozer assembly of a rigid unit frame construction adapted to withstand the twist and thrust of large work ing loads while having means permitting rapid adjustment of the blade to a plurality of different positions. Various other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the accompanying description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a construction tractor embodying the bulldozer assembly of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the bulldozer assembly of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the bulldozer assembly of this invention;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 55 in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along line 66 of FIG. 2.

The following is a discussion and description of preferred specific embodiments of the new bulldozer assembly of this invention, such being made with reference to the drawings, whereupon the same reference numerals are used to indicate the same or similar parts and/or structure. It is to be understood that such discussion and description is not to unduly limit the scope of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail and particularly to FIG. 1, a large construction tractor such as the Case 1200 manufactured by J. I. Case Company, is indicated generally at 12 having an engine portion 13 between the front wheels 14 to which is mounted a bulldozer assembly 16 of this invention. The bulldozer assembly 16 consists of a blade means 18 connected to an elongated undercarriage frame means 19, a horizontal thrust support assembly 20 mounted on the tractor 12 supporting the rearward portion of the undercarriage frame means 19, a vertical thrust support assembly 22 mounted on the forward section of the engine portion 13, linkage means 23 connecting the undercarriage frame means 19 to the vertical thrust support assembly 22, and hydraulic ram means 24 operably connected to the linkage means 23 to raise and lower the undercarriage frame means 19 and interconnected blade means 18.

More particularly, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the undercarriage frame means 19 is of a boxed construction having elongated parallel beams 26 and 27 interconnected as by welding at one adjacent end with converging boxed angles 29. The adjoining ends of the boxed angles 29 are reenforced by gusset plates 31 welded to the upper and lower surfaces thereof. The beams 26 and 27 are interconnected intermediate their ends by a transversely extended box channel 32 welded therebetween. A connector ear 34 welded to the top rearward end surface of each beam 26 and 27 extends laterally therefrom and has a hole 35 therein for reasons to become obvious. The undercarriage frame means 19 is connected to the blade means 18 by an elongated vertically extended king pin 37 mounted within axially aligned holes 38 in the gusset plates 31 and holes 39 in laterally extended plates 41 welded to a support plate 42 which is part of the blade means 18.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the blade means 18 includes a heavy blade plate 44 connected as by bolt members 46 and 47 to the support plate 42. The blade plate 44 is of a rectangular shape having a concave forward working surface 48 with the outer ends supported by vertical struts 49. Gusset plates 51 are welded to the struts 49 and adjacent surfaces of the blade plate 44 for added rigidity (FIG. The upper and lower elongated horizontal edges of the blade plate 44 are reenforced by parallel angle iron braces 53 and 54, respectively, welded thereto with their open sides facing the blade plate 44. Block members 56 are welded to the inner rearwardly facing surfaces of the iron braces '53 and 54 and the blade plate 44 to provide flat contacting surfaces between the blade plate 44 and the support plate 42. These contacting surfaces in conjunction with arcuate slots 58 through which the bolts 46 are mounted permits rotational movement of the blade plate 44 about the central bolt 47 for angular adjustment. It is seen, therefore, that the blade means 18 provides for adjustment of the blade plate 44 for variance of the tilt relationship with the working soil for best results. The lower forward edge of the blade plate 44 supports a cutting plate 59 bolted thereto adapted to take substantially all of the cutting wear of the bulldozer assembly 16 and is therefore made so as to be replaceable. It is obvious that the cutting plate 59 can be rotated 180 degrees and bolted to the blade plate 44 so as to provide for a second cutting edge for double wear. A handle member 61 is welded to the top edge of the blade plate 44 for the purpose of lifting for attachment and/or removal of the blade means 18 from the tractor 12.

In order to anchor the blade means 18 in a given rotational position about the king pin 37 relative to the parallel beams 26 and 27 of the undercarriage frame means 19, a pair of lifting arms 62 and 63 are connected to the beams 26 and 27, respectively (FIGS. 2. and 3). The lifting arms 62 and 63 are of substantially Y shaped having upper and lower spaced ends connected to brackets 65 and 66, respectively, which are welded to the support plate 42 of the blade means 18. As shown in FIG. 5, these spaced ends are formed with eye pieces 68 mounted between ears 69 on the brackets 65 and 66 and pivotally connected thereto by pins 70 inserted within axially aligned holes therein. The opposite or rearward ends of the lifting arms 62 and 63 have eye members 72 pivotally connected by pins 73 to sleeve members 75 and 76, respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the sleeve members 75 and 76 are of a box construction mounted on the beams 26 and 27, respectively, in a telescoping relationship for axial movement relative thereto. A pair of spaced parallel cars 78 welded to each of the sleeve members 75 and 76 extend laterally outward therefrom and are positioned about the eye members 72 for pivotal connection with the lifting arms 62 and 63 by the pins 73. As shown in FIG. 2, the blade means 18 is pivotal about the king pin 37 for angular adjustment with resultant axial movement in opposite directions of the sleeve members 75 and 76 on the beams 26 and 27, respectively. Each of the beams 26 and 27 have spaced adjustable holes 80, which are movable into vertical axial alignment with holes 82 in the upper and lower surfaces of the sleeve members 75 and 76. These axially aligned holes are adapted to receive pull pins 83 to lock the blade means 18 to the undercarriage frame means 19 in a given angular position.

The undercarriage frame means 19 and the blade means 18 cooperate to form -a pusher assembly 84 which is connected to the tractor 12 for pivotal vertical movement about the horizontal thrust support assembly 20. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the horizontal thrust support assembly 20 includes a pair of parallel bracket plates 85 bolted to opposite sides of the engine portion 13 of the tractor 12 and having a load transfer plate 86 welded and extended between the lower edges thereof. A pair of parallel thrust rods 88 have adjacent ends thereof pivotally connected to the transfer plate 86 and the opposite rearwardly extended ends pivotally connected to bar clamps which are bolted to the draw bar 90 of the tractor 12. The connector ears 34 on the beams 26 and 27 are connected by pins 91 to the forward portion of the transfer plate 86. It is seen therefore, that the horizontal thrust support assembly 20 is rigidly connected to theengine portion 13 and the drawbar 90 of the tractor 12 while permitting the pusher assembly 84 to pivot relative to the transfer plate 86 and still rigidly absorb any horizontal load carried by the blade means 18.

In order to provide for vertical support of the pusher assembly 84, the linkage means 23 is connected to the vertical thrust support assembly 22 which is anchored to the forward end of the engine portion 13. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the vertical thrust support assembly 22 is of an irregular shape having vertical parallel side panels 93 interconnected by a transverse pipe 94 at the upper ends and by a U-shaped tray section 95 welded to the lower ends. A transverse plate 96 is welded between the side panels 93 for added rigidity. The tray section 95 has parallel sidewalls 97 bolted to the engine portion 13, a front wall 98 bolted to the front of the engine portion 13, and a bottom wall 99 welded to the sidewalls 97 and front walls 98 adapted to absorb the vertical thrust portion of a load against the blade means 18.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 the linkage means 23 includes a pair of parallel first link sections 101 having ends thereof pivotally connected by pins 102 to downwardly extended ear pieces 103 welded to the bottom Wall 99 of the vertical thrust support assembly 22. The opposite ends of the first link sections 101 are pivotally connected by releaseable pins 105 to an upper base portion of a U- shaped second link section 106. A plurality of gusset plates 107 are welded to opposite sides of parallel legs 109 of the second link section 106 for added rigidity. The attachment of the linkage means 23 to the pusher assembly 84 is accomplished by the pivotal connection by pins 110 of the lower ends of the legs 109 to upwardly extended ears 112 welded to the beams 26 and 27. It is seen, therefore, that the pusher assembly 84 is connected to the vertical thrust support assembly 22 by the linkage means 23 for pivotal movement about the transfer plate '86 of the horizontal thrust support assembly 20 by actuation by the hydraulic ram means 24.

The hydraulic ram means 24 includes first and second ram cylinders 114 and 115 having upper ends thereof rotatably connected to pins 117 carried between the sidewalls 118 of protector brackets 119 and 120, respectively, mounted on the side panels 93. The first and second ram cylinders 114 and 115 each contain an axially movable double acting piston integral with a piston rod (not shown). The lower ends of the piston rods have integral U-shaped ear members 122 mounted about upwardly extended eye pieces 123 welded to the mid portion of the first link sections 101 and pivotally connected thereto by pins 124. The hydraulic ram means 24 further includes first and second hydraulic lines 125 and 126 operably connected to each of the first and second ram cylinders 114 and 115 to raise and lower, respectively, the pusher assembly 84. A hydraulic pressure source is connected to the first and second hydraulic lines 125 and 126 to selectively move the pistons under fluid pressure by a control lever available to the operator of the tractor (not shown).

In the use and operation of the bulldozer assembly 16, the vertical and horizontal thrust assemblies 22 and 20 are bolted to the tractor 12 as previously described. The pusher assembly 84 is thereupon easily attachable to the tractor 12 on first attaching the connector cars 34 of the beams 26 and 27 by the pins 91 to the transfer plate 86. The hydraulic ram means 24 is then actuated to place the first link sections 101 in nesting engagement with the base portion of the second link section 106 and pivotally connected thereto by the releaseable pins 105. It is seen,

therefore, that the pusher assembly 84 is now connected to the tractor 12 for pivotal movement about the pins 91 on actuation of the hydraulic ram means 24 by the tractor operator.

The blade means 18 is adjustable to a desired angular position relative to the longitudinal axis of the undercarriage frame means 19 on sliding movement of the sleeves 75 and 76 on the beams 26 and 27. The blade means 18 is adjustable approximately 35 degrees in either direction relative to the undercarriage frame means 19 and is locked in the adjusted desired position by insertion of the pull pins 83 through the aligned holes 80, 82 in the sleeve members 75 and 76 and the beams 26 and 27,

' respectively. Additionally, the blade plate 44 is rotatable in a vertical plane for tilt adjustment relative to the support plate 42 thereby providing for the most desirable cutting angle of the blade means 18 relative to the working surface. A pair of ski-d shoe assemblies 128 are secured to the blade plate 44 and are vertically adjustable for use in light grading or snow removal. It is seen that the bulldozer assembly 16 provides a new and novel rigid structure which is readily attachable and adjustable in all directions for achieving the most efficient bulldozing position.

As will be apparent from the foregoing description of the preferred embodiments of applicants bulldozer assembly, relatively simple and rigid connecting means has been provided for the attachment of the bulldozer assembly to a conventional type tractor while still providing a rigid structure adaptable to move huge loads as commonly encountered in normal bulldozer operations. Applicants construction eliminates a great deal of time consuming and tedious work involved in removing and replacing a bulldozer assembly with a similar or different structure for other earth moving operations.

While the invention has been described in connection with preferred specific embodiments thereof, it will be understood that this description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims.

I claim:

1. A bulldozer blade assembly adapted for attachment to the framework and draw bar of the tractor, comprising:

(a) a vertical support frame mountable about the forward engine portion of the tractor,

(b) a horizontal thrust support assembl mountable on the engine portion rearwardly of said support frame and having a section thereof connectible to the draw bar for rigidity,

(c) an elongated undercarriage means including a pair of parallel beams having one adjacent end thereof pivotally connected to said thrust support assembly,

(d) means pivotally connecting the forward ends of said undercarriage means to a blade means,

(e) linkage means having opposite ends pivotally connected to said support frame and said beams, respectively,

(f) hydraulic ram means having opposite relatively movable ends pivotally connected to said support frame and said linkage means, respectively,

(g) control means operably connected to said ram means to selectively raise and lower said undercarriage means and interconnected blade means,

(h) arm means having one end thereof slidably mounted on said beams and the opposite end pivotally connected to said blade means whereby said arm means is selectively movable on said beams to pivot said blade means about said connecting means, and

(i) said support frame including a horizontal bottom wall,.an upright front wall secured to said bottom wall mountable against the forward engine portion, and upright sidewalls secured to said bottom wall and said front wall forming a tray section whereby vertical. thrust against said blade means is absorbed by said bottom wall and said front wall against the engine portion of the tractor.

' 2. A bulldozer assembly as described in claim 1 wherein:

(a) said thrust support assembly having a pair of support plates mountable on opposite sides of the engine portion, a load transfer frame secured to the lower ends of said plates, and a pair of elongated load struts having one adjacent end thereof secured to the draw bar to apply a horizontal force thereagainst, and the opposite ends pivotally connected to said transfer frame whereby a horizontal load on said undercarriage means is carried through said transfer frame to the draw bar.

. 3. A bulldozer assembly as described in claim 1, wherein:

(a) said arm means of Y shape having a first leg extended horizontally with one end pivotally connected to sleeve members mounted on said beams for axial movement relative thereto, and a second leg extended upwardly from said first leg having an outer end and the opposite end of said first leg pivotally connected to said blade means thereby providing horizontal and vertical stability to said balde means, and

(b) said sleeve members of a box-construction mounted about respective ones of said beams providing substantial rigidity relative to thrust against said blade means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

S. C. PELLEGRINO, Assistant Examiner. 

